"The history of the lands that became the United States began with the arrival of the first people in the Americas around 15,000 BC."
Examining historical narratives about the United States, including the exploration and settlement of the continent, the rise of the United States as a global superpower, and the impact of race, gender, and class on American history.
Historical Methodology: The study of the theory and practice of exploring, interpreting, and evaluating the past, including the different methodologies and techniques used by historians.
Historiography: The study of the history of historical writing and the changing interpretations of historical events and figures over time.
American Revolution: The social, economic, and political forces that led to the American Revolution, including the causes and consequences of the War of Independence.
Colonial America: The history of the 13 British colonies in North America, including their social, economic, and political development, and their relationship with Great Britain.
Civil War: The causes and consequences of the Civil War, including the political, social, and economic factors that contributed to the conflict.
Reconstruction Era: The period of rebuilding America after the Civil War, including the efforts to ensure civil rights for African Americans and the political, social, and economic changes that occurred.
Westward Expansion: The history of the westward expansion of the United States, including the impact of land acquisition, Manifest Destiny, and the displacement of Native Americans.
Industrial Revolution: The changes in the economy, society, and culture as a result of the growth of industry and technology during the 19th century.
World War I: The causes and consequences of World War I, including the political, economic, and social factors that contributed to the conflict.
World War II: The causes and consequences of World War II, including the political, economic, and social factors that contributed to the conflict, and the impact on the world order.
Cold War: The political, economic, and social conflicts between the US and the Soviet Union from the end of World War II to the 1990s.
Civil Rights Movement: The social and political movements aimed at securing equal rights for African Americans and other marginalized groups in the US.
Women's History: The study of the experiences, accomplishments, and contributions of women throughout history.
LGBTQ+ History: The history of LGBTQ+ individuals and movements, including the struggles for legal and social equality.
Native American History: The study of the history, culture, and traditions of Native Americans in North America, including the impact of colonialism and the fight for tribal sovereignty.
Environmental History: The study of the relationship between humans and the natural world over time, including the impact of industrialization, urbanization, and climate change.
Immigration History: The study of the history of immigration to the US, including the causes and consequences of migration, and the experiences of immigrant communities.
Intellectual History: The study of the history of ideas, including the development of philosophy, science, and artistic movements.
Digital Humanities: The use of digital tools and technologies to study and analyze historical data and materials.
Public History: The study of how history is presented and interpreted to the public through museums, archives, historical sites, and other forms of public engagement.
Political History: This area of study covers the history of political institutions, political events, and political leaders, including government structures, political movements, political philosophies, and political leaders.
Social History: This area of study examines the social structures of different historical periods, including social customs, cultural practices, social movements, and social hierarchies.
Cultural History: This area of study covers the history of the arts, literature, religion, and other cultural aspects of a society.
Military History: This area of study covers the history of warfare, including battles, strategies, and tactics used.
Economic History: This area of study examines the history of economic systems, trade, and commerce, including the evolution of capitalism, mercantilism and economic ideologies.
Environmental History: This area of study focuses on the interaction between human societies and the natural world, including the impact of human activities on the environment, ecosystems and wildlife.
Gender History: This area of study examines the history of gender roles, including the social construction of gender, gender relations, and gendered experiences.
Oral History: This area of study focuses on collecting and analyzing first-hand accounts of historical events, often through interviews with people who experienced or witnessed them.
Intellectual History: This area of study examines the history of ideas and knowledge production, including the evolution of intellectual movements, philosophies and ideologies.
Diplomatic History: This area of study covers the history of international relations, including diplomatic policies, international treaties, and foreign policies.
Legal History: This area of study examines the history of law and legal systems, examining the role of justice, legal institutions, and legal processes in shaping societies.
Medical History: This area of study covers the history of disease and medicine, including the evolution of medical practices, medical knowledge, and the impact of medical technologies.
Public History: This area of study covers the history of museums, historical preservation, and other forms of publicly accessible history.
Digital History: This area of study uses digital technologies to enhance historical research, analysis and publication.
Postcolonial History: This area of study focuses on the history of colonialism and imperialism, including the impact of colonialism on societies and cultures around the world.
"The European colonization of the Americas began in the late 15th century..."
"...most colonies in what would later become the United States were settled after 1600."
"By the 1760s, the thirteen British colonies contained 2.5 million people..."
"The Southern Colonies built an agricultural system on slave labor, kidnapping people from Africa for this purpose."
"Resistance to these taxes, especially the Boston Tea Party in 1773, led to Parliament issuing punitive laws designed to end self-government."
"In 1776, in Philadelphia, the Second Continental Congress declared the independence of the colonies as the 'United States'."
"Led by General George Washington, it won the Revolutionary War."
"The peace treaty of 1783 established the borders of the new sovereign state."
"The Articles of Confederation established a central government, but it was ineffectual at providing stability as it could not collect taxes and had no executive officer."
"A convention wrote a new Constitution that was adopted in 1789..."
"Purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803 doubled the size of the United States."
"Westward expansion was driven by a quest for inexpensive land for yeoman farmers and slave owners."
"Precipitated by the election of Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860, the Civil War began as the southern states seceded from the Union to form their own pro-slavery country."
"The defeat of the Confederates in 1865 led to the abolition of slavery."
"Mass dissatisfaction with corruption, inefficiency, and traditional politics stimulated the Progressive movement...Leading to reforms, including the federal income tax, direct election of Senators, granting of citizenship to many indigenous people, alcohol prohibition, and women's suffrage."
"President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented his New Deal programs, including relief for the unemployed, support for farmers, social security, and a minimum wage."
"Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States entered World War II..."
"The Cold War ended when the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991, leaving the United States as the world's sole superpower."
"Early in the 21st century, the United States experienced the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a negative effect on the local economy."